The Motional Blog

Welcome to the Motional blog. Sometimes we want to share the latest thinking, our thoughts, feedback from those using Motional, or ideas from communities working to support emotional wellbeing around the globe.

Get in touch if you have something to ask, something to share or something you think needs to be said!
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The new Ofsted Framework (2025): a Brighter Future for Children’s Wellbeing?

The new Ofsted Framework (2025): a Brighter Future for Children’s Wellbeing?

Announcements of changes from Ofsted don’t often meet with enthusiasm, but this one struck a slightly different chord in the Motional Team. Since Motional’s launch, the mission has been simple: "To prioritise Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health for children and young people...

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Deliberate Joy: Unlocking a Hidden Wellbeing Superpower

Deliberate Joy: Unlocking a Hidden Wellbeing Superpower

The return of The Joy Division! A growing band of wellbing professionals who chat about all things 'wellbeing' - and share their conversations! In this video, we explore the concept of deliberate joy as a hidden superpower for wellbeing in educational settings. We discuss how...

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Rethinking the Return: From Attendance Targets to Emotional Safety and Belonging!

Rethinking the Return: From Attendance Targets to Emotional Safety and Belonging!

As schools reopen after the summer break, the headlines and the government return to a familiar theme: attendance. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson recently suggested that children who miss the first week of term risk “starting badly.” The implication is clear: absence is a...

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The Importance of Play for Children's Development

The Importance of Play for Children's Development

In a time of mounting stress, reduced social interaction, and increasing screen time, schools are facing a quiet crisis: the decline of play. In this compelling roundtable conversation, four leading education and wellbeing experts come together to talk about why play is essentia...

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Attendance Reimagined: Creating Schools Where Every Child Can and Will Belong

Attendance Reimagined: Creating Schools Where Every Child Can and Will Belong

School attendance is often framed in terms of rules, punishments, and targets - but what if we looked at it through the lens of emotional wellbeing, connection, and motivation? In a compelling and practical session hosted by Motional’s Rich and Barnsley’s Virtual School Head ...

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The Emotions Toolkit: Taming Big Feelings at School

The Emotions Toolkit: Taming Big Feelings at School

In our previous post titled "Using Co-Regulation to Develop a Child's Self-Regulation," we explored the crucial role of co-regulation—the process through which adults help children manage their emotions. But what happens as children grow and start to navigate the more complex e...

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